I would like to congratulate Seamus Mallon and Andy Pollak on the publication of their new book: Seamus Mallon: a shared home place. In the recent Irish News coverage of this publication, Seamus’s views on a border poll are quoted and his opposition to a 50% plus 1 vote as a means of ending partition. The reason given is that this majoritarian approach could lead to the alienation of the other 49% of people. A variation of the classic confederal model of government was also cited as a possible framework for a new Ireland whereby Northern Ireland would continue as a jurisdiction but be linked to the 26-county Irish republic. Parallel consent (a majority from both main traditions) was presented as a way of achieving consensus for this outcome backed up by a more sustainable administration in the north. These views are very significant and are worthy of serious consideration.
I can also appreciate the rationale behind the calls for a border poll, in the sense that in calling for it, many believe that more awareness will be created about the need to end partition and for research to be done into what will come afterwards. It is also worth noting that some people who are calling for a border poll may not necessarily agree to a 50% plus 1 vote to determine the outcome. They may wish to look at other ways of measuring consensus for a new Ireland (which is very different to just ending partition) such as a multi-option border poll. This means that people list in order of preference their most favoured constitutional framework, including remaining within the UK which could also be 50% plus 1 and not a satisfactory way to proceed either. It would be important to involve the citizen in other ways too, such as having citizen’s conventions throughout the province to discuss new models of government.
Whatever Ireland’s future will be, it would be folly to think that it will just entail the north joining up in some way with the South or worse, the Irish Republic, with a few amendments to its constitution, taking over Northern Ireland. I would argue that there should ultimately be a completely new confederal constitution for the whole island, similar to what pertains in Switzerland. A confederation is a unitary state but not a centralised one and is the most accountable form of government because the citizen is sovereign through a canton system of participatory and direct democracy.
It would be wise to ensure that whichever constitution Ireland has in the future, its articles reflect the maximum consensus possible among all the people and that this is the basis upon which a claim for unity and self-determination
is made.
The writings of the late Dr. John Robb, my friend and colleague in the New Ireland Group, are a treasure for anyone interested in building reconciliation and consent for a New Ireland.
FRANCIS GALLAGHER
Castlewellan, Co Down
Welcome for Para colonel-in-chief was insensitive
The decision by the new Belfast mayor and the Armagh GAA manager to meet and greet the Colonel in Chief of the Parachute Regiment on his visit to the Six Counties was wrong and totally insensitive to the feelings of the Ballymurphy Massacre families and the families of other victims of this notorious regiment.
As the Ballymurphy families said in their press release: “The timing of this visit is very insensitive given the evidence of mass murder and sheer brutality being described in court by witnesses over the past months. Prince Charles is the colonel in chief of the Parachute regiment and he must take full responsibility for the actions of his troops”.
I would like to ask John Finucane and Kieran McGeeney, when they were welcoming the colonel in chief of the Parachute Regiment to the Six Counties, did they ask him to apologise for the actions of his troops during the conflict here?
Secondly, would they like to apologise to the Ballymurphy Massacre families for the hurt they caused by welcoming Charles at such an insensitive time.
Finally, having spoken to numerous Gaels from across Armagh who are disgusted by Kieran McGeeney’s actions, can the county board confirm if they gave the county manager permission to greet the colonel in chief of the Parachute Regiment in Armagh?
M DOHERTY
Belfast BT11
Impenetrable mysteries
Prof John Rooney (May 22) displays great learning and huge commitment to exploring complex theological topics. Many mortals dread to contemplate too deeply around the mysteries of Eucharist-Creation-Original Sin. Each year towards Pentecost it is lovely to read Acts of the Apostles as supplied in a modern translation by the Irish Bible Society in Dublin. The end part of Acts describes the Apostle Paul engaging a variety of important officials while imprisoned awaiting transfer to Rome. One official, Felix, is terrified as the great apostle describes: “doing right”, “self-control” and “the judgment to come”. To another official, Festus, Paul’s message just seems crazy. The mysteries of Eucharist-Creation-Original Sin are impenetrable. Many TV ads today seem to follow a simple elemental pattern of problem-solution-result. I sometimes wonder if our focus should be much more on God’s solution to our life problems, than the problems themselves. A passage in the Old Testament speaks of the cleansing, the renewing and the empowering presence God wants to gift us. The words of Ezekiel 36:25-27: “I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your filth and of all your foul idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws, and respect and practice my judgments”.
THOMAS HARDY
Belfast BT5
Time to end austerity
When Theresa May took office as prime minister, she promised to help the Jams, the ‘Just About Managing’ Families.
Many of these families are in work but their wages are not enough to provide a decent standard of living.
Instead Westminster has been embroiled in Brexit disputes to the neglect of all other matters.
Here in Northern Ireland the two extreme parties do not appear to have heard of the word “compromise”, so education, health, the environment and all the concerns of ordinary people are neglected.
The United Nations has recently reported on the extreme poverty facing many families in the UK, because of the government’s austerity policies – the most iniquitous is the two child limit, so that there is no increase in child tax credits and other benefits for a third or subsequent child. 150,000 families are already affected.
Why should a child be refused support because he/she happens to have older siblings?
There should be a national commitment to support children and family life.
We have an ageing population, fewer workers are coming from other EU countries, so we will need a supply of younger people to do the many essential jobs.
Increasing numbers of people are having to use food banks in a country where the recently published ‘Rich List’ showed increasing numbers of billionaires.
MARGARET MARSHALL
Belfast BT8
